Good Advice

Sometimes we need to forget we are a genealogist and

• think about census taking as if it were our job
• pretend we were the clerk that couldn't understand your ancestor
• imagine we are a semi-literate frontiersman collecting taxes
• imagine you are a non-English speaker with a fear of the government who sees the census taker coming
• think what it might have been like to have 4 small children, little money to spare, and barely able to afford a burial plot, let alone a tombstone

Remember, the research is about our ancestors and the people who created the records that we use--not necessarily about us.

 

Good advice from Michael Neill.

Online genealogy classes for begineers

Big news! We've created a whole new series of courses for beginners. These First Steps classes are designed to help you build a solid foundation of good research skills. Click on the link below to learn more about our newest class, "Using Birth Records" (but hurry—it starts on Monday!).

First Steps: Using Birth Records | FamilyTreeUniversity.com

www.familytreeuniversity.com

National Black Genealogy Summit

Still time to register for the National Black Genealogy Summit, Fort Wayne, Indiana 20-22 October. (Walk-in registrations will be accepted, but register ahead of time --frees up time for research in the Genealogy Center!)

Court house visit

If you are going to visit the court records office in a rural courthouse, considering finding out what days are days when court is in session. Offices are usually busier those days, and if possible, going on off court days may make things easier.

Migration sites

Great site. www.migrations.org

Google tips

Google Search Tips for Genealogists | TechTips | FamilySearch

www.familysearch.org

The Google Genealogist shares some tips to utilize the latest tools from Google to find your family history.

Input needed

Folks I need your input.  Do you have things you come across while searching your family that you have questions about?  Please post them on this site and I will respond with answers that will help you as well as other readers.  I look forward to your comments. 

Learning about our German ancestors

Fall Seminar - German Immigration, Settlement and Contributions [FA11m] : Ohio Chapter of Palatines.

www.oh-palam.org

Ohio Chapter of Palatines to America Fall Seminar - German Immigration, Settlement and Contributions [FA11m] - The Ohio Chapter Palatines to America2011 Fall Seminar"German Immigration, Settlement and Contributions" Saturday, October 15, 2011, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm The Der Dutchman Restaurant 445 S J...

German ancestors

Ohio Chapter - Palatines to America - German Genealogy Society

It's official: October is German-American Heritage Month in Ohio

Wall Photos

For the new genealogist

We're looking for our next Family Tree Firsts blogger. Maybe it's you! Click the link below to find out more.

Genealogy Insider - We're on the Lookout for a Family Tree Firsts Blogger!

blog.familytreemagazine.com

Continuing the family interview

When and where did you meet your wife/husband?  How did your meeting come about?  Was she/he your first love?  Can you describe the proposal, the wedding ceremony, the honeymoon? 

The stories that make genealogy interesting are those that brings our relatives lives alive.  These are not normally going to be found in a book or online.  They come from the memories of our relative both oral and those that have been documented.


Learning the events that led up to our parents marriage adds the important parts to our genealogy.  Getting the specifics of where they met.  How long the courtship lasted and such always provide interesting stories.  Learning of previous loves is always a interesting feature of the family interview.  


Then finally all the dealing with the wedding.  Who was in the wedding? Who attended?  What church were you married in?  Did you have a reception?  For future generations this is genealogy gold.  This is why we do the research we do.  We want to learn about our families lives.  Through understanding them our own lives start to make more sense.

Early Religion

This is a very interesting interactive site that shows early religions in Colonial America.  Excellent resource for many people that would eventually come to Northwest Ohio.

http://www.gilderlehrman.org/historynow/09_2011/interactive.php

Genealogy Timelines

Historical Timelines | Luxegen Genealogy and Family History

Using a Timeline - Historical events help determine why our ancestors chose to migrate from the homeland to a new country.

Excellent search helper

just installed 16,234 new US and surname genealogy links from Karen and the Linkpendium volunteers at http://www.Linkpendium.com/ Linkpendium now indexes 9,467,172 genealogical Web pages. THANKS to all the volunteers who are submitting links -- everyone, please make sure we include your favorite sites!

Linkpendium

German Genealogy- Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Today at the library they are presenting a talk on "German Genealogy".  It will be conducted from 11am to 1 pm.